Strokes' Julian Casablancas Announces Solo Debut Album

If you were holding your breath waiting for another Strokes album, you're probably dead already. But you can stop now. Practically every member of the band has some sort of non-Strokes project going on. Albert Hammond, Jr. has a solo career. FabrizioMoretti has Little Joy. Nikolai Fraiture has Nickel Eye.

And now the big one: FrontmanJulian Casablancas has recorded a solo album. Phrazes for the Young, Casablancas' curiously titled solo debut, is due this fall from Casablancas' own Cult Records via RCA in the U.S. and Europe and Rough Trade in the UK.

According to a press release, Casablancas recorded the eight-song album over the past year in New York, Los Angeles, and Nebraska. Jason Lader served as producer, and Bright Eyes/Monsters of Folk dude Mike Mogis contributes additional production. Song titles include "River of Brake Lights", "Glass", and the very NYC-sounding "Ludlow St.".

Casablancas also has a website, but right now its only content is a minute-and-a-half YouTube video filled with disconnected images: a windswept plain, a hive of bees, a futuristic cityscape, Casablancas grabbing a microphone. The soundtrack is a sun-dazed synth epic that actually reminds me of J Dilla, or maybe Ratatat. Weird! Check it out below.

Casablancas plans to play a few U.S. shows, followed by an actual tour later in the year. He hasn't announced any dates yet.

In related news, that first Strokes album sounded pretty amazing over the Fourth of July weekend. Barbecue soundtracks don't come much better.